Genesis A eBook

Thereupon the crowd, the shameless race, answered
2475 him through common consent:

“It seems very right and fitting that thou shouldst
depart out of this neighborhood, thou who bereft of
friends and with the step of an exile soughtest this
people from afar, in thy need: wilt thou, if
thou mayst, be our 2480 ruler here, the
teacher of the people?”

Then I heard of Loth how the heathen masses gripped
him with their hands, with hostile grasp: his
guests aided him well and the righteous strangers
drew him 2485 out of the clutches
of the enemy back within the walls, and then speedily
closed fast the eyesight of every one of the people
of Sodoma standing around: the whole
2490 crowd of citizens forthwith became blind;
nor could they, in their evil rage, break into the
house after the guests, as they intended, but the
messengers of God were [too] active for them; the
stranger had power, irre- 2495 sistible
vigor, and was very severe upon the people in [inflicting]
punishment. Then the dear ministers of peace
spoke fairly to Loth, in these words:

“If thou hast a son, or dear relative, or any
friend among these people besides these maidens whom
we see 2500 here, lead out of this
city those who are dear to thee, with great haste,
and save thine own life, lest thou perish with these
law-breakers. For the Lord has commanded us,
because of the people’s sins, to give over Sodoma
and 2505 Gomorra to black flame and fire,
and to slay these people, [striking] the race in their
cities with deadly horrors, and so wreak His wrath
[upon them]. It has nearly reached the appointed
time. Set out on thy way, to save thy life:
the Lord is merciful to thee...."[34]
2510

Loth then hastily answered them:

“I cannot, with these womenfolk, seek my safety
so far from here in a journey on foot. You manifest
to me kindness and fair friendship, you grant me grace
2515 and good-will. I know a lofty
town near here, a little fortress: leave me there,
in honor and peace, so that we may seek safety above,
in Sigor. If you will protect that 2520
lofty fastness from the fire, we can abide in that
place unharmed, in safety, and so preserve our lives.”

Then the righteous angels answered him benevol-
2525 ently:

“Thou shalt be successful in this petition,
now thou speakest about that city: withdraw immediately
to that fastness. We shall keep thee in peace
and safety. We must not wreak the wrath of God
upon these law- 2530 breakers
and destroy the sinful race, before thou hast led
thy children and wife likewise into Saegor.”